shortstep

I know next to nothing about fox hunting so had a quick Google and on Wiki it says "that the animal rarely endures hours of torment and pursuit by hounds, and research by Oxford University shows that the fox is normally killed after only an average of 17 minutes of chase" I wonder if that is true or not. Oxford is known for putting out false study information, so do not believe a word they say. LOL

Just some thoughts to some of the statements made above. Around here foxes spit up the bait and your best friend and working dog finds it and dies. Ask me, bait is only used as it is effective in killing lots of foxes. It is not used because it is more humane than hunting them out nor is it not used even knowing there a good chance a few or more domestic dogs will eat it and die. Hunting is the a viable answer, shoot them on sight or hunt them out with dogs and then shoot them. Fox were introduced to the US and Canada a long time ago and they are in most parts of the country. They have not however become as much as a pest as they are here. They have been hunted by gun, trap and dog extensively. Foxes on fox hunts are not usually killed in the US ( like they were in the UK), once they go down a hole they ride on and leave the fox. However people hunt fox all the time and kill them and using dogs is one method. Most hunters (with dogs) will not hunt during pup season and if they find pups in a burrow will replace the ground and not go after the mother. Read the Terrierman blog original links go back to, he has extensive information about foxes and hunting them in the US. Coyote are great survivors and very adaptable, they are not in danger of extinction. Coy are native to all parts of the US and always have been. They are still found in all parts of the US even cities. Packs of coyotes or singles dogs can enter your fenced back yard in the suburbs, breed you best show bitch, kill your male dog and hunt out your cat and eat it, they are not good to have around neighborhoods or any farms or properties. These dogs are bigger than dingoes and very cleaver. BTW Coy dogs are not that rare and usually not suitable for pets. Most want to see their numbers controlled, right now more than ever, as they are in direct competition with wolves. There is a lot of effort being placed on reestablishing wolves in certain areas of the US and Canada. Though it is not always so easy to tell a wolf from a coy. Coy on rural properties are usually watched and if they pass through are left alone, if they move in and start to kill then they will be shot. http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2009/...he-watches.html http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2007/...shigton-dc.html http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/...-bounty-on.html http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/search/label/wolf Anyone really interested in hunting, foxes, coy, wolves, using dogs for hunting, terriers, photography, history, dogs dogs and more dogs, breeding, politics, and much more should take a good look around the Terriermans blog (Daily Dose), it is truly a very educational web site. However the site is huge and if you really start to explore it, do plan to spend days if not weeks reading. I find it a great way to start the day with my morning cup of coffee, always something interesting on the daily blog. http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/

:D My terriers are spannable but no way on god's green earth would I do that Not knowing a thing about Spanning, I saw the tatoo and thought, 'Oh how sweet some macho guy has had his dog tattooed on his arm, but what a funny way to hold it, he must not be much a dog person'....LOL BTW if I ever decide to breed terriers, I am calling my kennel Spandex

Breed dedication meaning getting a tatoo of spanning a terrier on your forarm....LOL I love his blog and read it every day. I learn a lot about dogs, breeds, history and current events.

There is heaps of national and state park land and wilderness in that direct area. If they start to enter properties and start killing, the will get shot. I would guess the hound and horse folks almost never catch a coyote (they might seldom even see one, and just be cashing the recent get a way tracks). But they hopfully do scare the heck out of them and the coyote will think long and hard before going back to that ranch area again. Just might save their lives, as well as the rancher's calves, sheep, lambs, chickens and their dogs and cats.

Who let the hounds out! Great photos of dog horses and countryside. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13...o=feeds-newsxml

Now this is breed dedication! Tatoo, Spanning a terrier. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PU3rRoTcf3I/TaRy...able-tattoo.jpg I had no idea about this practice and found it all very interesting. I wonder how many breeders and owners care about the this and use this as part of the selection process to keep the breeds fit for function? Had a little fantacy that breeders are going to tell me that the judge spans every terrier (on appropriate breeds) as part of the assessment, guess not? Some links about spanning and fit for function. http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2005/...s-to-rally.html http://www.terrierman.com/barryjones.htm http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2004/...ebraushund.html http://www.terrierman.com/terriersizearticle.htm

With a average score of 23 which is considered Borderline HD (19-25) and 25% of screened dogs affected with HD, no one would suggest that HD should not be paramount in the mind of all breeders and all buyers of this breed. However in my opinion, to believe that averaging scores is going to improve the chance of a litter not haveing 1 in 4 affected pups or will help to improve the breeds future by decreasing HD, is an over simplification at best. In my opinion, any breed with numbers like this, should have a panel of experts in genetics, population genetics, a specialist on HD genetics and risk factors, breed expert, and so on. All the records collected from Australia as well as around the world, including all HD records and population numbers including COI's. Then ask them to develop a plan to address HD in the breed. A sort of EBV system for HD reduction would likely be designed for this breed. I am very sure their solutions will include several methods of screening and selection. Including selection using assessment of risk factors such as body size and weight, growth rate, early maturing and so forth. Screening programs to capture more information about dog in question, including lateral pedigrees for siblings and other close relatives. Likely mandatory hip screening on all parents of registered litters ( and I think any dog with a score over 12 should have to be final scored after 2 years of age to look for further changes). A final selection guideline (which I very much question would be to use breed average as the method of selection). Also needed would be methods for the breed club to capture all the above information and have that information in usable format for breeders and buyers. Lots of education on how to use this information. Finally a review process every few years to see if progress is being made by the reduction of the number of affected dogs in litters. Some other methods might also be advised if improvement was not seen. I am sure there is much more I have left out. So I am not suggesting that anyone abandone breed averaging so they can breed two high scoring dogs together, far from it. I am suggesting that depending on breed average as the selection process to improve the future of hips in this breed is not near enough. Just my opinion based, on the numbers presented.

This is really good, go after the problems with assistence. We need a lot more of this sort of help for animals and their families.

Glad you like it, made my morning! But might be a bit to ordinary for most folks on DOL. Here is something that is modern jazz and art. The Tell-Tale Hound - Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six

There is an excellent 7 generation pedigree to look at on the link below, helpful to see this before reading the interpetation. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/...gs-1668857.html The Hapsburg dynasty was one of the most important and influential royal families in Europe dating back more than 500 years and producing rulers in Austria, Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands and the German empire. Then, in 1700, it suffered a sudden demise of its Spanish branch. Now scientists believe they have come up with a definitive explanation. A study of the extended family tree of the House of Hapsburg has found that the last Spanish Hapsburg king, Charles II, was the offspring of a marriage that was almost as genetically inbred as an incestuous relationship between a brother and sister or parent and child. Scientists have found that the Hapsburg fashion of marrying their relatives to keep their dynastic heritage intact had dire consequences for subsequent generations, which culminated in the last heir to the Spanish throne being sickly and impotent. Charles II of Spain was nicknamed El Hechizado – The Hexed – because people at the time thought that his physical and mental disabilities were the result of sorcery. Now a study into the genetics of his immediate ancestors has found that he was so inbred that he probably suffered from at least two inherited disorders. Despite his deformities and severe health problems, Charles had married twice in the hope of continuing the rule of the Hapsburgs, but he was incapable of fathering an heir and died childless at the age of 39. He was the last of a long line of Hapsburgs and it spelled the end for the Spanish branch of the dynasty. Scientists believe they can show just how inbred Charles was following a study of more than 3,000 relatives of the Hapsburg family extending over 16 generations. The researchers found that his "inbreeding coefficient" – a measure of the proportion of inbred genes he had inherited from his parents – was on a par with that of the offspring of an incestuous marriage. Professor Gonzalo Alvarez, of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, found that the Hapsburgs suffered a far higher child mortality than the general population, even though the family was immensely wealthy and did not experience the poverty related health problems faced by many people at the time. They also suffered a higher incidence of physical deformities, which were best exemplified by the famous "Hapsburg lip", a disfiguringly prominent lower jaw caused by an inherited medical condition called mandibular prognathism, when the lower jaw grows faster than the upper jaw. Charles II not only suffered an extreme version of the Hapsburg lip, his tongue was said to be so big for his mouth that he had difficulty speaking and drooled. He also suffered from an oversized head, intestinal upsets, convulsions and, according to his first wife, premature ejaculation. "He was unable to speak until the age of four, and could not walk until the age of eight. He was short, weak and quite lean and thin. He was described as a person showing very little interest in his surroundings," Professor Alvarez said. "He looked like an old person when he was 30 years old, suffering edemas [swellings] on his feet, legs, abdomen and face. During the last years of his life he could barely stand up and suffered from hallucinations and convulsive episodes," he said. The medical problems of Charles II of Spain were not the random consequences of life, but the direct result of many generations of interbreeding between close relatives within the extended Hapsburg dynasty, according to the study published in the online journal Plos One. The motto of the Hapsburg dynasty – "Let others wage wars, but you, happy Austria, shall marry" – extolled the tendency of family members to marry within their ranks. Charles' father, Philip IV, was the uncle of his mother, Mariana of Austria; his great-grandfather, Philip II, was also the uncle of his great-grandmother, Anna of Austria; and his grandmother, Maria Anna of Austria, was simultaneously his aunt. There were many marriages between first and third cousins within the Hapsburg family, as well as between uncles and nieces and more remote family members. This meant that down the generations, with no let up on the amount of intermarriage, the degree of genetic inbreeding gradually built up. The founder of the Spanish dynasty, Philip I, is calculated to have an inbreeding coefficient of 0.025, which meant that just 2.5 per cent of his genes were likely to be identical by common descent. But 200 years and seven generations later, the coefficient had leapt ten-fold to 0.25 in the genome of Charles II, meaning up to one in four of his genes might have been identical. The medical dangers of such a high level of inbreeding is that dangerously defective genes, which are usually recessive, can come together in one individual and so manifest themselves as an ailment. This is why the offspring of first-cousin marriages are at higher risk of inherited disorders. Professor Alvarez and his colleagues believe that Charles II suffered the consequences of a high level of marriage between biological relatives. Nine of the 11 marriages over 200 years that preceded his birth were consanguineous, including two uncle-niece marriages and two first-cousin marriages. Professor Alvarez suggested that Charles II had inherited genes that caused two genetic disorders. One was a hormone imbalance called pituitary hormone deficiency, which would have affected his growth and development, and the other was a kidney problem that led to a metabolic disorder which caused impotence and infertility. "His muscular weakness at a young age, rickets, haematuria [blood in the urine] and big head relative to his body size could be attributed to this genetic disorder," he said. "In this way, we may speculate that most of the symptoms showed by Charles II could be explained by two genetic disorders."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...nQTjwZf1g#at=76 Wa-wa-wa-ooooh!! I know the day you left you said, "Let's never talk again But I'm not calling for myself, I'm calling, for them Our little ones who wait at home, heartbroken and upset And though they don't remember much, they can't seem to forget [Chorus 1:] The dogs, they really miss you, they're different since you said goodbye They brood, they pout, they feel put out, if they could speak, they'd tell you "Hi" They're too down to play around, they've hardly touched their meals The dogs, they really miss you, and I know just how they feel [bridge 1:] Their tails won't wag, their hearts won't heal, [ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/IXg2 ] they blame themselves that you're a stray They're sorry that you felt tied down, and never learned to stay Molly's nose is warm and dry, since she sat and watched you pack She figures that you must be lost, and can't find your way back [bridge 2:] And scooter's just a basket case, he won't return my calls His squeeky toy lies silent, he's lost interest in his balls [Chorus 2:] The dogs, they really miss you, they're not themselves since you're not here They sleep al day, watch TV all night, they drink way too much beer They've seen Old Yeller forty times, they bathe less than they should The dogs, they've stopped their poker games, hoping you'll come home for good [Tag:] You know how they hate to beg, but the dogs are really blue Because they really miss you, and you know that I do too, wa-wa-wa-ooooh

Agree, besides I do not think there is any proof that using 2 dogs that add up and divide by 2 to be less than the breeds average as a breeding plan does anything to improve scores in that litter or over time in the breed either. The only xray screening method to have dramatic results of improvment on scores across the breed is to remove all affected dogs, (dogs with hips in the OFA range of Poor onwards) you will then see a dramatic improvement in the rate of unaffected pups in litters and across the breed (of screened parent litters). In some breeds this is just not possible as such a high rate of the population is affected. In other populations there is continuted breeding of unscored dogs, which is allowing affected dogs to remain in the gene pool. The next proven method to imporve hips is diet and controlled exercise. This does not change the genetics, but it can reduce the severity of symptoms enough to mask the milder cases of HD. Even though these dogs will xray as normal they will still carry the genetic risk of affected dogs forward to their offspring. I personally recommend that breeders encourage their buyers to practice tight control of diet and exercise the first year to give their pups the best chance of normal hips, however with their own potential breeding stock I do not recomened deliberat efforts to mask HD. Cornell about 2 years ago found some genes for HD risk traits, this was a breakthrough and opened a very important new door. I posted yesterday about the study on Labs to isolate some of this breed's risk traits and develope a test for breeders. This is very important and I suggest reading up on it, as it is going to soon be available for some breeds. This test for labs will reveal the dogs personal risk levels for developing HD. These will not be the same as a DNA test for a disease, rather they will help to expose certain traits that have been shown to increase risk. These test will be able to used on pups as a screening method, both to help protect buyers and to help select potential future breeding dogs (and in some breed prevent the accidental removal of the few dogs that have less risk, another words you can do some primary selection to retain the best hip genetics in your line). http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=218456 Then there is a more straight forward method of selction to reduced risk fators. Large bone and size, rapid growth, early maturity, dwarf traits, short deformed legs, and so on should be avoided in breeding programs. Dogs with the above traits have higher risk of HD and breeders should either not select these traits or if they are breed wide traits should select towards the less extreme examples of thee traits, examples would be; choose dwarf dogs with a little bit longer legs, select dogs with less bone, size and weight and so on. With the 4 methods above put into place with in a breed, I believe that HD can be controlled and continued improvement could be made in most breeds.

© I give permission for the results of the examination to be used at a future date for the purposes of statistical research which will be published and for use by the ANKC on the internet. Yes q No q It is optional here in Aus Oh, strange. I wonder why someone would tick "no", if it's anonymous (it is, right?) Well the statistical information is anonymous(or it is suppose to be) but all the details of the dog are on the form submitted. I guess it comes down to individual choice and whether or not you WANT your dogs score to be part of the national database. Some do. some dont. I like the way OFA does it. (hope this is still current) All results are anonymose and are used for stats but there is never any indication of who the dogs are on this, I do not think the dog information is stored in any way for this part. Just the score and breed. However there is a section which offers you three choices for an online databank. Your dog and scores are kept confidential and never listed on the site. Your dogs score will be listed if it is in the normal range and not lilsted if it is abnormal. Your dogs scores will be listed no matter what the score. You pick what suits. On this data bank and you can serch by dogs name, prefixes, breeder, by scores, and so on. Really very helpful for reserching pedigrees. You can also pull up a lateral pedigree on any dog. This will show all siblings and half siblings scores for 3-5 generations. Really a great tool. Back to the AVA and use of dogs information for ANKC or research, it does not say it is anonymose. The first thing that came to my mind was EBV databanks at the Uni. I would (and did not) want to give that right of my dogs private information over to ANKC and the Uni with no input or control over what they do with it, so I would always mark that box no. I am going to guess that the numbers quoated on the breed average is made from all the dogs scored and no information about the dog is part of this stat, and this is not what they are talking about in that permission question. But a very good question to call and ask them.

That is what it said. I just copied it. I am sure lots more dogs were xrayed, but the films were not sent in to be scored. This is why averages or any of these rating systems are not really accurte for assessing the breed. Most experts think you can double the number of affected dogs and still might be less than the real number.

Just went though this. After looking at just about everything on the market, the top 2 were Ford Territory and the Toyota Kluger. (I also liked the Freelander). It was a hard choice. Pluses for Territory were Very nice view from rear passenger seats. Very comfy and roomy, leather Quite smooth ride Rear wheel drive. Rear area good for crates. Very perky, ok on fuel. Negatives Does not hold value very well Ford in general not as reliable No rear airconditioning, well it has a mid seat center vent that is blocked if you put down the seats. Pluses for Toyota Kluger Holds value really well. Very lux, seats are super comfy and leather Rear seats also very comfy 3 row seats also not too bad if you ever needed them. 3 aircondition areas, front mid and rear, front and rear have seperate controls, mid and rear vents are in roof and point down right were dog crates are, all this sold me for dog comfort on long trips. Mid seats go down with one pull of a lever, wow so easy. Very perky and the V6 is not bad on fuel. Con's Mid seats do not fold down totally flat. We got the front wheel drive, I would have prefere rear. It also comes in all wheel but I wanted the better milage. Ride is more stiff then Ford. Freelander is worth a look. It drove well and was very well made. I thought it was too expensive and it did not have rear air, that ended it for me. For the money the Xtrail might be worth looking at. I found it too tight in the front, just not comfy for long trips. But a great value. I got the Toyota and I love it. Kluger KXS model with all leather and most of the bells and wistles as standard, got the nudge bar, and front parking sensor and tow bar. Just wanted to add, I found the cheapest place to buy it was Nowra Toyota and they deliver to most areas in NSW and maybe Vic?? (and were still cheaper than anyone else), so give them a look on price before you buy. Look on carsales. com to shop for good prices on new cars.

AVA current report 2000-2010 230 dogs scored, average score 18.4 lowest score 2 highest score 77 OFA Hips 5243 total dogs scored 3.9% excellent hips 24.5% affected hips OFA Elbows 2054 total dogs scored 85.6% normal 14.1% affected

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/News/14-Front-Cover Clubs split over way forward for Cardigans 07 Apr 2011 08:01 This article has 3 Comment(s) A NEW Cardigan Corgi club has set itself at loggerheads with the old established societies by claiming that breeders are not doing enough to make the breed more popular. Arwyn Morgans, chairman of the new Cardiganshire Yard Dog Society – so-called because a Corgi is said to measure a yard from nose to tip of tail – says his club intends to save the breed from extinction. He wants to do this by reintroducing them to their original function of herding cattle, and charging less for puppies he breeds with no conditions attached to the sale. However, members of the established Corgi clubs and breeders generally fear that Mr Morgans may not encourage buyers to get Kennel Club-registered puppies nor carry out necessary health checks. Brenda Piears, vice-chairman of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association, said: “I have no problem with this new society developing dogs for working on farms. What I am worried about is that indiscriminate breeding could endanger the future health of the breed. “The Cardigan has progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which we have been able to identify through DNA matching. We are trying not to breed from animals that have this disease. “Increased breeding could result in Cardigans not being registered with the KC which means that PRA could increase again.” ‘Could be extinct’ Mr Morgans, a Builth Wells butcher and racehorse owner and breeder, said there were fewer than 300 Cardigan Corgis registered last year, and that the number was decreasing each year. “This means the breed could be extinct within 20 years,” he said. “Our aim is to increase numbers so that they can be used for what they were originally bred to do – to drove cattle by barking and nipping at the their heels. “A total of 46 Cardigan Corgis was registered last year – it’s that bad – and I just want to see the breed saved.” He said he was not worried about what the established breeders thought of him. “I don’t give a hoot about it,” he said. “They have nearly ruined an old-fashioned breed and we are bringing them back. “Quite a few people are interested – we have had a lot of response from people saying they have tried to get puppies from breeders and they won’t sell them to them because they are going to be used on farms and not shown. “I have had to pay £700-£1,000 for a puppy and asked to sign a declaration that I’m going to show the dogs and not breed from them. It took me two years to get the registration papers for one dog I bought from Ireland. “There are some stupid breeders refusing to let people have puppies and as a result are nearly losing breed altogether.” Mr Morgans said he had bred ‘a couple of litters’ and that his dogs were ‘clean’ – free from any health problems – and so any puppies he bred would also be free of problems. “Whatever health tests need to be done we will do, but if you start with clean pups they will stay clean,” he said. Mr Morgans bought his first dog for half-a-crown (12.5p) when he was nine and growing up on his parents’ Cardiganshire smallholding. He now has a dog and two bitches he works on his current property. “It’s like the Welsh sheepdog a few years ago. That was in danger of dying out but everybody got behind it and they are thriving now. We have to do the same otherwise it will have gone.” ‘Resuscitate’ Raymond Osborne-Jones, secretary of the new society, said: “The main purpose is to resuscitate our native Corgi breed as a working dog on farms and small holdings. “It’s very rare now in Wales, partly because of the popularity of the Pembroke Corgi. We want to revive them in their native home.” Margo Hackney, former chairman of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association, described Mr Morgans and Mr Osborne-Jones as experienced stockmen and breeders. “These people are not puppy farmers,” she said. “They are disenchanted because they had a bad experience with the breeders in Ireland. Mr Morgans then paid a stud fee and the bitch missed twice and he lost his money. “He came to me and I helped them. They have a son of my bitch Ch Yardican Diamond Drop and a son of Ch Tamlin King George The First. “It’s a genuine ideal to return the Corgi to the working dog it was and if that is the truth, and I think it is. There is no evidence of mass production of puppies, although the general feeling is they may not be doing health checks. However, Cardis have very few or no problems and they do have PRA clear stock. “As far as I am aware they have bred only one litter in four years and they have gone to working homes. They genuinely want to put the Cardigan Corgi back into Cardiganshire and that is a great aim. You would not breed Corgis as a cash crop because they are not in demand like some breeds.” Mrs Piears said she was not surprised that Mr Morgans’ opinions had been jaundiced by his experience in getting the puppies from Ireland. “He couldn’t get the paperwork – although he has got it now,” she said. “I and other breeders would have preferred it if he had come to us and used our dogs. “But they have courted publicity and people aren’t terribly happy about it. I think it would be better if we just work together. No one is unhappy about dogs working on a farm but I’m not sure if we need a new club and the suggestion does seem to be that people should use their dogs and not worry about KC registration. “With small breed like ours we can’t be doing with people not registering their dogs.” Mrs Piears said that although the Corgi can suffer from PRA, the health testing regime has been so thorough that a carrier has not been bred from in the UKsince 2002. “DNA testing dogs is in our club’s code of ethics,” she said. “We were very lucky that it was so easy to eradicate the problem from show breeding shock. But if dogs are not registered we don’t know what their health record is. “Mr Morgans and Mr Osborne-Jones say the breed could die out, but we can only breed to demand and the demand is not that large. “We don’t want to be on bad terms with them. No-one worried about encouraging the use of dogs on Welsh farms because that is what they are for and that is great. It’s just that we want to encourage them to come to us. We don’t ask what they want to use the dogs for.” Lisa Croft-Elliott, secretary of the Welsh Corgi Club, said she thought it was wonderful that the gentlemen wanted to preserve the working heritage of the breed. “They are charging more in stud fees than we charge for our champion dog and they are saying we’re greedy,” she said. “They say they want to save the breed from extinction but the breed is not extinct – which is why there are so many Corgi clubs. They are saying they are crusaders of the Cardigan and that put my hackles up. “I don’t have any problem with there being a new club but why don’t they talk to the other clubs about it?” Carrie Russell-Smith, secretary of the Welsh Corgi Club of Cambria, said breeders had no problems with Corgis being used to herd livestock. “That is their original function,” she said. “But we are concerned that Mr Morgans and Mr Osborne-Jones not proactive when it comes to health testing. “They have accused breeders of charging too much for puppies and not supplying papers but that is an incorrect generalisation.”

There is much more information on this study to find/develope a DNA HD risk test on the below link, look for links to the left of the page. http://www.aht.org.uk/labrador.html Labrador Retriever Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Study The Animal Health Trust, The Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh are carrying out a study, funded by the BBSRC, on hip and elbow dysplasia in Labrador Retrievers. Objectives of the Study There is no cure for hip or elbow dysplasia, yet these have been found to be among the most prevalent conditions affecting the health and welfare of Labrador Retrievers. Around 27% of Labrador Retrievers suffer from musculoskeletal problems compared with 8% of dogs across all breeds (KC/BSAVA Health Survey). Currently the screening process for hip and elbow dysplasia is costly and requires dogs to undergo general anaesthetic in order to be X-rayed. The purpose of our project is to use new genomic technologies which are now available for dogs to develop an accurate DNA-based test for genetic risk of hip and elbow dysplasia that will: improve welfare as it will not require dogs to undergo anaesthesia or be exposed to X-rays allow breeders to test dogs soon after birth improve breeders’ ability to select against these debilitating diseases result in much quicker progress towards the goal of eradicating hip and elbow dysplasia

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to benefit from two new DNA health tests Scientists working in the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust have identified the mutations responsible for causing dry eye and curly coat syndrome and episodic falling in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). The two separate conditions cause trauma and distress not only for the dogs but also their owners. Episodic falling is a neurological condition, induced by exercise, excitement or frustration, in which muscle tone increases. This means the dog is unable to relax its muscles, becomes rigid and falls over. Affected dogs usually start to demonstrate clinical signs before one year of age, with most cases having their first episode aged four to seven months. Dry eye and curly coat, known scientifically as congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ichthyosiform dermatosis, affects a dog’s eyes and skin. Affected dogs produce no tears making their eyes incredibly sore. Their skin becomes very flaky and dry, particularly around the foot, and this can make standing and walking difficult and painful. This syndrome appears to be a problem unique to CKCS and most dogs diagnosed with the condition are put to sleep. Claudia Hartley, our Head of Small Animal Ophthalmology, said: “I have treated, and tried to help, many dogs with this horrible condition. We’ve been working hard to try to find alternative treatment solutions. I’ve always hoped that the work we’ve been doing would eventually identify the cause of this painful and blinding disease. We now have a real chance to eradicate dry eye and curly coat which is fantastic news for anyone involved with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.” The mutations were identified by AHT PhD student, Oliver Forman, who analysed over five million letters of DNA from CKCS affected with these two diseases. By identifying the genetic mutations responsible for causing these conditions, the AHT has been able to develop DNA tests to identify carriers. These new DNA tests will be available from Monday 18 April 2011. Cathryn Mellersh, our Head of Canine Genetics, said: “To date there has been no long-term effective treatment for either dry eye and curly coat syndrome or episodic falling so the development of the DNA tests is an important breakthrough for breeders, and owners, of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.” Mike Townsend, Chairman of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust which helps to fund the Canine Genetics Centre’s work, said: “Every dog deserves to lead a healthy, happy life and this breakthrough will make a real difference to the future health of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Our knowledge about inherited diseases in dogs is growing every day and by passing knowledge about the importance of health testing onto breeders and puppy buyers we can help to ensure that the healthiest genes are passed down through the generations.” The episodic falling study was undertaken in collaboration with Professor Jacques Penderis from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, who diagnosed many of the dogs that contributed to the study. The support of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, The WALTHAM Foundation, the Tezmae Charitable Trust, along with several breed clubs and individuals who have contributed samples and information, has been invaluable in the development of the DNA tests. Cathryn added: “As with all inherited disease, it’s important that breeders are armed with the facts and that they still continue to use carrier dogs in their breeding programmes. Breeding a carrier with a non-carrier will not produce affected puppies, however breeding just clear dogs with other clear dogs could reduce the gene pool within the breed and this could lead to other health problems in the future.” Owners and breeders can access the DNA tests for dry eye and curly coat and episodic falling, from 18 April 2011, through the AHT’s online DNA testing webshop. http://www.aht.org.uk/news.html

There is a special section just for cruelty, can you please move this to the cruelty and abuse section. Thanks.

Good news, lets hope they change the law!

Yes agree but the battle cry is often, as it was in this thread that the real problem is BYB and Puppy farmers, not 'registered" which I guess means only ANKC breeders. I am simply pointing out that as far as I know there are no rules in the ANKC that stop BYB (what ever they are) from being members of ANKC and so forth. I really believe the only way to stop the dumping of pets is through education. Education will prevent people from buying a pet they will not keep. Education will prevent people from not desexing their pets if they know they cannot meet the needs of an intact pet. Education will prevent people from shoping in stores that sell cats and dogs, this will educate the stor owner if he wants to sell pet products he better stop selling pets. If one wants to stop set shop sales, then there are proven methods to make this happen. I believe, if ANKC, MDBA, WKC and other registries, ADAA, Flyball, Trial , the AVA and so forth (after they each write a policy nationwide that no member may sell to pet shops if they do not already have this) in partnership with RSPCA and other rescue orgnaizations called on all members and owners and the public at large to refuse to shop at all pet shops that sell cats and dogs. Send letters to all pet shops explaining what ia required to get on the list of approved pet supply shops. Get the news papers and TV to cover the calling by dog owners, breeders and concerned associations across Asutralia for the request that all person not shop at pet stores that sell cats and dogs. If every dog owner would take just a few min everytime the pass a pet shop that sells pets to speak to the owner manger or even the clerk to tell them you will never shop or recommend their shop to anyone you know with dogs because they sell cats and dogs. Then make an online list of Approved pets shops who have pledged to not sell cats or dogs. In short, notify by public action, that all pet shops need to stop selling pets. Always pollite but gets the point across. You want our buinsess stop selling cats and dogs. This has worked. Do I think preventing pet shops from selling cats and dogs will stop unwanted pets at shelters? Not a chance. But I still think that pet shop sales of cats and dogs is not the right way to get a pet for the owners but more importantly it is not in the best interest of the pets being sold. Shortstep Dogs NSW backed PIAA against moves to ban sales of live animals in pet shops and they actively advertise and promote the ability for their members to sell to PIAA recognised pet shops and agents. The ACCC will not allow the ANKC to prevent their members form selling to a pet shop - this has been tested in a major court case and it is seen as a restriction of trade which is against federal law. This is the main reason the MDBA set up under the business entity we did in the first place. In some states such as SA the clause remains that they are not to sell to retail outlets however it is a proven fact that this is against this federal law and cannot stick. Then how come MDBA can restrict their members trade and ANKC can not. Is only ANKC bond by the federal law you speak of. I do not understand how it would apply to one and not the other? It is my understanding that ANKC is a club, and they can can restrict the conduct of their members as they see fit, as the member represents ANKC. This is why they can say you can only do certain types of TV work. This is why they say you cannot use your stud for over dogs not registered in ANKC or for cross bred litter service, that is restricting your trade too? On this case, was there actually a court trail and verdict, if so you do have any records of the judgement? Dates and so forth. The MDBA is a different type of service and a different business entity our members are more like clients. From memory when it was all going through the legals around 18 years ago it has something to do with the ANKC monopoly on certain things in this country. Started off with a blue about a member who had purchased puppies for an overseas puppy farmer - I know this because I was one of the breeders who he scammed. No idea about court trials and verdicts which doesnt count anyway because at the end of the day they have to take direction from the ACCC. How do they get away with restricting which pet shop ? - the talk back when they were promoting the hell out of them and telling their members what a great thing it would be to sell their puppies to PIAA pet shops and PIAA agnets is about how PIAA have certain codes and regs which others dont have and they have agreements with the ANKC to keep certain records etc. Whether that would stick if someone wanted to yell about it - no idea. If you use a registered dog over a non registered dog and you are no longer a member you can still sell your non registered puppies anywhere you want to whom ever you want for the same price - because you couldnt have sold them to an FCI member in another country, you couldnt have sold them as registered purebred pedigreed puppies suitable for show or breeding etc Not being a member of the ANKC if you choose to do that doesnt restrict your ability to sell your puppies without restriction in comparison of anyone else who is breeding non registered puppies.There fore its not a restriction of trade. If I want to breed registered purebred puppies and sell some to pet shops and some to Germany to compete in FCI events by taking away my membership for selling to pet shops you prevent me from being able to sell the same product to the same market for the same price as someone who produces the same product and does everything exactly the same except sell puppies to a pet shop - restriction of trade. Well without a court case then it is all ANKC's idea (or the people at that time) of what they can or should do and not do. I would say they could more likely get in trouble for restraint of trade with the current rule by limited members to only one organization of pet shops. They are making an ANKC dog monoply for the owners of these certain pet shops. I am pretty sure clubs can have restrictions of trade of their members. The government will only get involved if there is a law that you must work through the club. For example if only ANKC breeders can breed dogs in Australia and then ANKC makes a rule that they want to force their member into a monoply with only certain pets shops, that would certainly not be suported by the government. However being a member of ANKC is not the only way you can breed dogs. So therefor they can not make a rule like the one they have now (remember they are also restricting their dogs to only those pet shops so they are attempting to prevent other pet shops from access to ANKC pups which would also be illegal if ANKC was the only place pet shops can get a pup). But if the ANKC members did not want to be restrained to only those pets shops, or if the members voted to allow no ANKC members to sell dogs to be sold in pet shops, then there is no reason that can not be the way it is. Same as it for your registry, with the exception that in ANKC the member should have the power to decide. Who knows how this got started and really I don't care, what is important now is that we as member od ANKC realize that we are members of an orgnaization that not only supports the selling of pups in pet shops but also has an agreement with these certain shops to place ANKC pups only into their pet shops, which as far as I can see on the surface appears to be creating a monpoly of ANKC pups available only in these certain pet shops. I do not believe the majority of members want to support a monopoly of ANKC pups to this one group of pet shops. I also think the majority of members would also say no ANKC breeders should sell to ANY pet shops as it tarnishes the reputation of all ANKC breeders and (should be) in direct conflict with the code of ethics. But I am glad to now know that ANKC has taken a stand on the selling of ANKC puppies to pet shops. That ANKC supports the sales of ANKC puppies in pet shops provided it is one of the 300 or so pet shops they have decided to directe their members to. Doesn't this make me (and everyone else who is a member of ANKC) in effect in support of pet shop puppies? Oh dear.

They are Eurohounds Eurohounds have heard of them but don't know much about them. Cross of??? Alaskan Husky (that is a newish breed, was or is a cross of Husky and ?), they look and sound hound (what kind?) and maybe sight hound too?? guessing on this? Absolute fit for function, they are beautiful dogs. This is why I can not get that exceited a out cross breeding or attempting to breed new types of dogs that are appropriate for what the person or persons want to do with them. If they over time become a stable breed, then that is good too. They are pretty much a cross between the Alaskan Husky and Pointers. Over time though, the percentage of Husky has been watered down to being very small. Purpose built for speed and they absolutely clean up in the European sprint races. Hence why he can have them off-lead and they for the most part, do what he asks them. Not like a bunch of Siberians Are there any Alaskan Huskies in Australia?

They are Eurohounds Eurohounds have heard of them but don't know much about them. Cross of??? Alaskan Husky (that is a newish breed, was or is a cross of Husky and ?), they look and sound hound (what kind?) and maybe sight hound too?? guessing on this? Absolute fit for function, they are beautiful dogs. This is why I can not get that exceited about cross breeding or attempting to breed new types of dogs that are appropriate for what the person or persons want to do with them. If they over time become a stable breed, then that is good too.